NI17A - A guide to Maternity Benefits
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
Twins or multiple births
If you are expecting more than one baby, your entitlement to SMP is exactly the same as if you were expecting only one.
If your baby dies
If your baby is born dead earlier than the 24th week of your pregnancy you will not be able to get SMP. But you may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay from your employer or Employment and Support Allowance from Jobcentre Plus.
- Statutory Sick Pay (GOV.UK)
- Employment and Support Allowance (GOV.UK)
If your baby is stillborn from the start of the 24th week of pregnancy and you have notification for the registration of a stillbirth from the attending doctor or midwife or a certificate of stillbirth, you are entitled to SMP where all the conditions for payment are satisfied.
If your baby is born alive and then dies, you are still entitled to SMP.
Mariners and continental shelf workers
You will not get SMP if you are a mariner on a foreign-going vessel or deep sea fishing vessel employed by a UK employer while under a contract for which your employer pays a special low rate of NI contributions. See leaflet on Seafarers available from HM Revenue & Customs website.
- Seafarers (HM Revenue & Customs website)
If you are a continental shelf worker or a mariner employed by a UK employer trading within the near continental limits you are covered by the SMP scheme.
Moreover, if your baby is born early or you cannot be returned to the mainland when your MPP is due to start, you will be regarded as if you were in the UK.
